The Horns of Kern
*
Quiet fell upon the safe haven early that night. Gertrude found that he could not sleep. He went to the window to look out over the courtyard, bathed in moonlight. He saw a figure standing out in the middle of the yard with one arm extended out. Gertrude watched as he made a gesture with the other hand. To Gertrude’s amazement, a kestrel landed on the figure’s arm. Then he was joined by another figure that was smaller and another kestrel landed on their extended arm.
He watched until the kestrels took to the air. Gertrude sat down on his bed to ponder what he had just witnessed. His mind clouded. It seemed like moments later he was awakened by a knock at his door. He sat up and wanted to go back to sleep.
“Gertrude! Gertrude! Wake up! The hour is quickly approaching for you to leave.” His mother’s voice was firm and filled with resolve. “Gertrude, are you awake!”
“Yes, Mother, I am awake. Come in, please.” Gertrude had fallen asleep in his clothes.
“My goodness, what happened to you? You look as if you were dragged down the street by a galloping horse!” Winifred went over to him and kicked him in the shin. “That one is to wake you up. You have one more kick coming before you leave.” Winifred smiled menacingly at her son.
“OW! If you kick me that hard again, I will probably end up a cripple for the rest of my life…” Gertrude sat on the edge of the bed, rubbing his bruised shin.
“Hurry, now, you do not want to be the last one out into the hall. What will everyone think?”
Gertrude looked at his mother and shook his head. “Maybe if you left, I would be able to get ready.”
“Oh, well, I suppose that I should.” Winifred walked to the door and closed it behind her. “Don’t dally!”
Gertrude walked over to where his other clothing had been hanging and took a start. Upon one hook was a red silk shirt with the insignia of his family crest embroidered over a pocket. On the hook next to the shirt was a pair of leather trousers with the finest of hand stitching. The articles of combat gear that caught his eye were a golden breastplate and helmet with a large red plume adorning its crown. Who? How did it get there? He did not have the latitude to stand there and wonder about the uniform.
The Grand Frog-Troll hurriedly washed and donned the uniform, and held his helmet under his arm. He sauntered out to the great room and stopped in surprised and awe as he looked over a roomful of fully outfitted trolls in almost the same attire as his. He looked past his fellow trolls and his eyes fell upon the figure of Octavius. He was shocked to see Norman standing next to her father, fully clad in battle dress. The troll waded through cheering multitudes to where Octavius and Norman were standing. Not far away was Queen Emmaline with Winifred beside her. They were both crying. “Norman, what are you doing here and why are you dressed like that?”
“It seems the choice was made for me as I found the clothing in my room. Besides, I would not and could not sit idly by while my father is trying to regain control of our kingdom. The honor of the family will be handed down to me some day and I must show that I can carry that honor upon my shoulders.”
“Not to mention that she can beat any soldier on the field at wielding an accurate sword…” Octavius mused with a wry smile crossing his face.
“I want to thank you for the armor, Octavius, but I do not know how you did it.” Gertrude lifted the helmet.
“I did not do it, Gertrude. Nobody knows where it all came from.” Octavius raised his brows and gave a shrug.
Behind them came an old voice and they turned around to see Laude and Amor. Both of them were dressed in white and bore a red ribbon around their necks. “It is almost time for you to leave, as it is an arduous trek down the mountain. Our Master has told us that he will light the way for you ‘til you get to the tunnel. He has sent a messenger to tell us that we should inform you to cleanse any hate from your heart before you leave. He says that hate is too heavy a burden to carry into battle. Remember that good will always conquer evil.” Laude looked at his wife. “Come, my Dear, we must get our preparations under way.” Laude turned to them once more. “May Kern always smile upon you.” With that, Laude and Amor turned and walked out of the room.
Octavius looked at Gertrude. “I want to address your people for a moment, Gertrude.”
“Your Highness, they are your people, too. We may be totally different in the way we look, but we still reside in your kingdom, under your rule. We are honored to have you as our king. We are your people.” Gertrude looked at Octavius and gestured for him to take a chair to stand on.
“Thank you, my dear friend, for enlightening me to that fact.” Octavius pulled a chair over and jumped up onto it. “My people, as I stand before you in awe upon this ominous morn, I am in awe that you would put your lives in peril for me and our kingdom. I will remain indebted to all of you throughout my reign for the sacrifices that you are making this day. May our God protect each and every one of us as we go into battle. May we wield our weapons with honor and the knowledge that our cause is just.” Octavius raised his sword. He noticed something about the sword, but continued his speech. “To battle, my friends!”
An uproar erupted and reverberated through the great room. “Octavius! Octavius!” The chant went on for a few minutes and then turned into loud talking, hugs and tears.
Gertrude had noticed Octavius pause as he had held up his sword. “Is there something wrong with the blade you have, Octavius?” The king looked puzzled. He withdrew the sword from its scabbard and held it out for Gertrude to see, his eyes widening in complete astonishment. Octavius truly did have his sword.
Gertrude withdrew his sword and put it up beside the one Octavius was holding. They were identical except for the names ‘Sebastian’ and ‘Norman’. “How did you regain your sword, Octavius?”
“It is not the same sword that I picked up this morning. I swear! When I took it out of the sheath, it looked different when I held it up. That is when I noticed that it appeared to be your father’s sword. I am totally bewildered by all the happenings ever since we came to this safe haven.”
“We do not have the pleasure to stop and contemplate what’s going on. The time has come for us to leave.” Gertrude went over to his mother to get a hug and kiss. “Ouch! Yes, Mother, I will be careful.”
He turned around to find Toddy standing behind him in a pale blue dress. She was crying. Gertrude hugged and kissed her, too. “Ouch! I will be limping into battle for sure now.” Gertrude smiled. “I love you and I will return.” He took his hand and wiped a tear away from her eye. Jumping onto a chair, Gertrude let out a shrill whistle to get everyone’s attention. He waited until all was quiet. “My friends, it is off to battle now. Make any further farewells brief. Let us leave this place in song.” Gertrude started the ‘Troll Honor Song’…
“Honor above glory, honor above life, we shall all be bound by this moment, this honorable moment in our lives. He who tests our honor shall feel our wrath, for we are trolls of honor, honor, honor ‘til our bodies draw their last breath.”
Voices of all the trolls raised in song reverberated off of the walls and ceiling. Hugs and kisses there were aplenty and many a sore shin. Gertrude, King Octavius and Princess Norman led the way out into the cold, still night. The moon shone so brightly that it almost seemed like day and not one torch was needed to light the way. The army kept singing the Honor Song and it echoed through the mountain tops as loud as thunder.